Runaway donkey ends up in swimming pool

Romeo the donkey back home with his owner,Tim Hirst. Romeo was rescued from a swimming pool by the fire service

EMILY DENNIS

22 June 2010

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo…?

Trapped in a swimming pool and being rescued by firefighters is not the line you expect next.

But this was the saga that unfolded in a quiet Norfolk village when a donkey named after the famous Shakespeare character escaped from his paddock.

Romeo's owners spent several hours looking for the errant equine after he made a bolt for freedom early yesterday.

Tim Hirst and his partner Rachel, from Mundham, near Loddon, scoured the local fields and roads after discovering Romeo had gone missing at about 3am, but there was no sign of him.

It was not until about 9.30am that the donkey was found trapped in a swimming pool at a farm in the neighbouring village of Thwaite.

It is thought he could have been in the pool for several hours after stumbling onto the blue cover and falling through.

A rescue operation promptly got underway and three fire crews from Norwich rushed to the scene.

They freed Romeo using equipment borrowed from a farm opposite and the weary, but seemingly uninjured, donkey is now recovering at home.

Mr Hirst described Romeo, who is about 35-years-old, as a “character” and a much-loved pet.

He said: “He went missing at about 3am. The Shetland pony was making a noise and the gate was open. We went out looking for him but we couldn't find him.

“I went out again at about 7.30am along the byways and the highways, but there was still no sign.”

Mr Hirst said he was alerted to Romeo's whereabouts at about 9.30am after efforts were made to trace the donkey's owner.

“When I went up to the farm there were three or four fire engines and there were various people helping to keep Romeo's head above water,” he said.

“The local farmer opposite came round with a teleporter and the fire brigade put straps around Romeo and lifted him out.

“The fire brigade did a great job. They got him out and he stood on his own feet. I think the worst part was walking him back home half a mile - it took me the best part of an hour.”

Jo Bassingthwaighte, who has lived at the farm for more than 50 years, said that her daughter Susan Huggins spotted the donkey in the pool while attending to the vegetable garden. “She ran in and said to phone the fire brigade quickly as we had a donkey in our pool,” she said.

“The cover was on the pool and it had fallen through and got its head stuck. My daughter said they only got it out just in time.”

Mr Hirst, business development manager for Openfield grain co-operative, said: “It has been an interesting morning. I suppose Romeo is in a bit of shock. I would like to thank everybody, especially Mrs Huggins. Everyone has been fantastic.”